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In a moment of exhaustion and elation, Novak Djokovic recognized Margaret Court in the crowd and thanked her for staying up so late to witness his epic five-set victory over defending champion Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semifinal that concluded well past 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
The significance of Court’s presence was not lost on Djokovic. The 83-year-old Australian tennis legend currently shares the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles with the Serbian star—a record that could change Sunday when Djokovic faces Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
“Some legends stayed up to 2 a.m.!” Djokovic acknowledged during his on-court interview. “Thank you so much for being here.”
The grueling semifinal victory sets up a compelling generational clash in the championship match. Top-ranked Alcaraz, just 22 years old, is bidding to become the youngest man ever to complete a career Grand Slam, while Djokovic, 38, seeks to stand alone atop tennis history with his 25th major title.
Djokovic has made little secret of the fact that he’s only in Australia this year pursuing that coveted 25th major. Though some analysts debate the greatness of Court’s career tally because she won 13 of her 24 major singles titles before the professional Open era began in 1968, Djokovic has always respected the numbers.
The semifinal victory was particularly meaningful as it ended Djokovic’s streak of five consecutive losses to Sinner and snapped a concerning run of four semifinal defeats at Grand Slam tournaments. It puts him in his 11th Australian Open final—a tournament where he boasts a perfect 10-0 record in championship matches.
Following his semifinal triumph, Djokovic indicated he would prioritize recovery over practice on Saturday. “I was imagining really playing against Jannik and Carlos at the final stages of Grand Slams and battling it out,” he said of his season goals. “Very fortunate to already get it in the first Slam of the year.”
Alcaraz will also focus on recovery after his own five-set marathon against Alexander Zverev—a match lasting 5 hours and 27 minutes, making it the longest semifinal in Australian Open history. The young Spaniard struggled with cramps and a sore right leg during that contest, even requiring a medical timeout.
“I just got to do whatever it takes to be as good as I can for the final,” Alcaraz said afterward.
Djokovic’s path to the final included some fortune—a fourth-round walkover and a quarterfinal retirement by Lorenzo Musetti after the Italian had taken a two-set lead. Against Sinner, however, the Serbian showed his trademark resilience. Despite appearing physically drained at times, Djokovic fended off 16 of 18 break points, including all eight in the decisive fifth set.
The final represents a clash with historical implications beyond just Djokovic’s pursuit of a record 25th major. He aims to become the oldest man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam title, while Alcaraz seeks to be the youngest ever to complete the career Grand Slam.
“There’s always for me, also for Carlos—because of his age and everything he’s achieved—history on the line,” Djokovic noted.
The championship match comes at a pivotal moment in men’s tennis. Alcaraz and Sinner have emerged as the sport’s new guard, splitting the last eight majors evenly between them and repeatedly thwarting Djokovic’s pursuit of his 25th title. Djokovic hasn’t won a major since the 2023 U.S. Open, but he bristles at suggestions of decline.
“There’s a lot of people that doubted me… a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me,” he said defiantly. “I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong.”
Fellow tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who will attend the final, expressed diplomatic support when asked to pick a preferred champion. “I feel I have to support Carlos,” Nadal said of his countryman, before adding, “If Novak wins, I will be happy for him. It is spectacular what he’s doing at this stage of his career.”
The stage is now set for a compelling generational showdown that could either cement Djokovic’s status as tennis’s all-time greatest or further establish Alcaraz as the sport’s brightest young star.
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7 Comments
Djokovic and Alcaraz are both incredible talents, and this final has huge implications for the future of men’s tennis. Djokovic chasing his 25th major, Alcaraz trying to become the youngest to complete a career Slam – can’t wait to see how it plays out.
Absolutely, this final has so many compelling storylines. Djokovic’s quest for history versus Alcaraz’s chance to cement his place as the next dominant force in the sport. Should be a fascinating match to watch unfold.
This is a high-stakes matchup between tennis legends. Djokovic and Alcaraz are both making history bids, going for the most Grand Slam titles and becoming the youngest to complete a career Slam, respectively. Intriguing to see the seasoned veteran take on the young phenom.
This is shaping up to be a classic clash of generations in the men’s game. Alcaraz has the youth and momentum, while Djokovic has the experience and hunger for more records. Tough to predict the outcome, but it should make for a thrilling Australian Open final.
Very cool to see tennis legends like Margaret Court still engaged with the sport and supporting the current greats. Djokovic and Alcaraz are both true champions in their own right, and this final will be a must-watch for any tennis fan.
Interesting to see Margaret Court in the crowd at this late hour, supporting Djokovic’s quest for history. Her own record-setting career is still debated, but her presence underscores the significance of this final. Curious to see if Alcaraz can pull off the upset against the wily Djokovic.
Yes, Court’s attendance is a nice nod to tennis history and the gravity of this final. Djokovic has been very intentional about pursuing that 25th major title, so he’ll be highly motivated to get the job done against the talented Alcaraz.